Weft-end clearer for weft-replenishing looms



1644,64@ Oct. 4,1927. i P KEEGAN ,y

n WEFT END CLEARER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Nov. 24. 1926 Z'SheetsL-Sheet 1 oct. 4, KEEGAN M WEFT END CLEARER FOR 'WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Nov. 24. 1926 I 2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 I x ,P/,\ l 4 ,tuali e3 2610 V 48' f ATTO/wif lit) Patented Get. 4, '1927.

. ,pasate fifi@ PATRICK KEEGAN, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNGR T0 DRAPER COR- PORATION, 0F HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE;

YVEFT-END GLEARER FOR WEET-REPLENISHINGLOOMS. Y

Application filed November 24, 1926. Serial No. 150,542.

rlhis invention relates to weft replenish ing looms and is more particularly directed to the clearer for the weft end which leads from the discharged weft carrier tothe shuttle on replenishment.

ln weft replenishing looms it is now the eonmon practice to provide means for parting or cutting the outgoing weft between 'the cloth selvage and the shuttle and to discharge the outgoing weft carrier or bobbin in a downward and frontward y f rom the shuttle. Shouldthe end of the parted weft remain in the shuttle eye or in the shuttle box when the 'outgoing w ft earrier is discharged, there is danger of the weft end benig carried into the shed and thereby produce imperfect cloth.

This fact has heretofore been recognized and various means have been suggested for avoiding the objections incident thereto. ln

some of these previous suggestions, the weft leading from the outgoing weft carrier or bobbin has been clamped between the discharged weft carrier andy shuttle, so thaton the pick following replenishment the weftend would be held and withdrawn from the shuttle eye, and such clamping means has comprised a fixen clamping member and a movable clamping member mounted to swing in a horizontal plane towards and from the fixed clamping member. This character of construction has involved a farther uncertainty in securing or clamping the weft end, by reason of the tact that the swinging clamping member is liable to throw the weft end from between the clamping members they are brought into clamping position. v

Bearing in mind that the path of the outgoing weft carrier when it is discharjed from the shuttle is in a frontward and downward direction, the present invention con templates a weft end clearer wherein the weft end members are so related that when they are separated they present an opening which is directed upwardly and rearwardly towards the shuttle box at the moment of transfer', with the result that the opening is in thedirect natural path of the weft. end carrier or bobbin as it is discharged from the shuttle box.

Another important feature of the invention consists in providing` the weft endr clearer or clamping members with an interensraging projection and recess, whereby', when the weft carrier has been discharged direction andthe clamping members closedv upon the weft between the discharged weft carrier and shuttle, it will be securely held, so that on the following' pick of the shuttle it will be withdrawn from the shuttle eye.

Another important feature of the present invention consistsL in an apron which is mounted to extend in a position to intercept the outgoing weft carrier or bobbin in its frontward path and cause it to pass between the open jaws ofthe weft end clearer, the opening of which is directed upwardly and towards the lay or shuttle boX.

The invention and new features thereof will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good form thereof.

ln tho drawings:

Fig. l is a perspectiveview taken at the replenisl'iing` side` of the loom showing thel present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation from front to rear of the loom, passing through the shuttle box and apron, and showing the fea'-v tures of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a detached detail in perspective showing one form of means for actuating or opening the clamping members on call for replenishment of weft;

Fig. t is a detailed vsectional eleva-tion showing the relation ofthe apron and the open clamping members as the outgoing weft carrier or bobbin is'discharged from the shuttle; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional'elevationu showing the clamping members yas and holding the weft end. Y

rllhe loom frame l may be of usual con struction and provided with the hopper stand 2 on which the hogper 3 may be mounted, as usual, for presenting the weft carriers successively into position for trans-V fer. Mounted on the hopper standis the stud or dead shaft l carrying vthe'transferrer 5, the hub portion of which is provided with the downwardly extending arm 6 to which is pivotally connected at 7 thel usual dog 8 adapted lto be engaged by a bunter 9 on the lay to effect replenishment of weft. These parts may be of usual construction.

.In the present instance ofthe invention, the loom is shown as provided with a shuttle feeler l0 having'a thread parter and clamp 1l and on call for replenishment of weft they shuttle feeler with the thread clamping parter and clamp is moved rearwardly to part and clamp the outgoing weft end between the shuttle and cloth selvage. These parts may all be of'usual and well-known construction and need no further description, the construction being such that when detection ot substantial exhaustion or iilling occurs by suitable detecting mechanism now well-known in the art, the shuttle ieeler and thread parter and clamp will be moved rearwardly to operative position, and simultaneously therewith the dog 8.will be raised into the path of the bunter 9 to cause actuation of the transferrer on the following beatup movement of the lay.

Mounted in suitable bearings 12 at the front of the loom is the transverse or rock shaft 13 having the rearwardly extending arm 14: Jforvmoving the shuttle teeler rearwardly on call for replenishment or filling, but as these parts are now well-known, both as to construction and mode ot operation, their further ydescription and illustration herein appears unnecessary. Y

The weft end clearer or' the present invention is mounted on the loom traine in front of the lay and the wett end clearer members are each provided with a laterally y extending arm; that is, an arm extending transversely of the lay in front ot the shuttle box and in parallel relation, and the parts ofthe weft end clearer are so related andcombined that when the laterally extending arms are separatedon callVor rcplenishment ot weft, as will later appear, the opening between the laterally extending arms of the clamping members will be directed into the natural path of the wett end clearer or bobbin as itis discharged onreplenishment of weft.

As shown in the present instance ot the invention, a bracket 15 is secured to the loom frame, as indicated in Fig. 1, and provided with a rearwardly extending arf-n 16, comprising a part of the ixed wett end clearer member. The ,armV 16 has extending laterallyV therefrom or transversely of the loom the weft end clearer' arm 17 which may be additionally braced if desired by a brace member 18 secured to the under portion er" the fixed weft'end clearer, as at 19, and to the loom frame at 20, as indicated in Fig. 2, although this may not always be necessary. y

The movable weft end clearer or clamping member, as shown in Figs.y 1 and 2, is pivotally supported at the front of the loom, to partake of an opening and closing` rmovement,and inthe present instance of the invention the bracket 15 is provided with a frontwardly extending lug 21 on which pivotally supported the movable clearer or clamping member 22, the rear end portion of which has a laterally extending arm 23 in parallel relation with the laterally extending arm 17 of the fixed clearer or clamping member, and from the construction thus far described it will be apparent that' the two laterally extending arms 17 and 23 ot the fixed` and movable clamping or clearing members remain substantially parallel at all times. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the iixed clearer member extends rearwardly from the trent or' the loom in an upwardly and rearwardly direction and that the movable clamping` member 22 likewise extends rearwardly and upwardly, with the result" that when the clearer members are separated on call for replenishment et weft they vprovide an open ing between the clam' members, as indicated in Fig, 4l, which is directed upwardly and rearwardly towards the lay or shuttle box in the natural path oit the weit car rier as it is discharged from the slinttle.

The movable clamping member 22, in accordance with the Ypresent invention, is to be moved away from the fixed clamping member on call tor replenishment ot weit to provide an opening between the clearer members tor the reception of the outgoing weft carrier, and to this end the movable clamping member is provided with an upwardly extending arm 211 which is rigidly secured to the movable clamping member, and at its upperportion the arm 24e lhas pivo'tally associated therewith at 25 the actuator 26 tor the movable clamping member. The rear end portion of the actuator' 26 extends through a slotted plate 27, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the slot 28 whereof is of somewhat greater vertical dimensions, as shown, than Vthe vertical dimension of the actuat r, and the actuator 26 is provided with a shoulder portion 29 rearwardly of which extends the projection 30, the construction being such that during normal weaving operations the actuator 26 will rest upon the bottom wall of the slot 28 and the clamping members of the wettclearer will remain in clamped position under the actuation ot a spring 31, Fig. 1, one end of which is secured to the movable clamping member at 32, and the other end to a pin er project-ion secured to the loom frame.

As indicated, in the present Jform of the invention the arm 242 is formed as part ci" the hub portion 34, and the movable clamping member 22 is secured to the hub portion or arm 24 by the clamping bolts 85. The details of this construction are not of special importance but that shown and'described above is a good practical 'form ot this feature.

The transverse shaft 13, as shown, Fig. 1, extends laterally beyond the bearing 12, as at 36, and has secured thereto the arm 37 from which extends a litter 38, the lower end 39 of which underlies the actuator 26, with the result that when weft replenishment.

v the actuator 26 to position the shoulder 29 ill thereof for engagement with the plate 27 mounted on the lay, a condition which is indicated in Fig. 2. From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that during normal weaving operations, the actuator 26 will rest upon the lower wall of the slot 28 in the plate 27, the rearwardly extending portion 30 of the actuator af fording means to prevent disengagement of the actuator from the slot in the plate. Then replenishment is called, however, and

the transverse shaft 13 is rocked, the lifter 38 will raise the actuator 26 in the slot 28 of the plate 27 and position the shoulder 29 for engagement by said plate as the lay moves frontwardly when the shuttle has Y arrived in the replenishing box. As the lay moves frontwardly under the conditions stated, the movable weft clamping member 22 will be lifted in an upward direction with its transverse arm 23 in parallelrelation with the transverse arm 17 of the lixed clamping member, t-o provide an opening between the transversely extending arms which is directed upwardly and rearwardly towards the lay or shuttle box for the passage of the outgoing weft carrier. When weft replenishment has been effected and t-he lay moves baclrwardly, the actuator 26 will drop into the lower part of the slot 28 and the spring 31 will cause the movable clamping member to move to its weft end clamping position, as indicated in Fig. 1.

In weaving with certain kinds of weft it is essential that the weft thread a extending between the discharged weft carrier 4() and. the shuttle shall be securely clamped or held, as otherwise it is liable to be pulled from, between the clamping members when the shuttle is picked. In accordance with the present invention, therefore, the laterally extending arms 17 and 23 of the` fixed and movable clamping members are provided with an interengaging recess and projection which eectively clamps and secures the filling end.

ln the present instance of the invention, the laterally extending arm 17 of the fixed clamping member is provided with a` tapering recess 41 which is adapted to receive the tapering projection 42 of the laterally extending` arm 23 of the movable clamping member. The tapering recess 41 in the arm 17 is provided with friction material 43, as more clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, and such friction material may be, and preferably is, felt, leather, rubber, or the like, the

effect beinfr that when the clamping mem.

bers are in closed position, as indicated in Fig. 5, the weft end a between the dischargedweft carrier and shuttle willl be securely held from slipping as the shuttle is piclred, and

effectively withdraw the weft end from the shuttle eye; Y

The lay 44 is provided with the usual shuttle box 45 having abottom opening 46 for the passage of the outgoing weft carr' rier from the shuttle 47, and extending downwardly from the opening 46 is the weft carrier or bobbin chute 48 which directs the outgoing weft carrier in a downward and frontward direction through the opening between t-he laterally extending arms 17 and 23 of the fixed and movable clamping members, which opening is directed in substantial alinement with the path of the outgoing weft carrier, as indicated in Fig. 4. .1t may happen at times that the outgoing weft carrier may overthrow frontwardly, and to prevent such overthrow and direct the weft carrier in its proper path to the upwardly and rearwardlyextending opening between thel clamping members, the, present invention provides an apron, best` shown in Figs. 1 and 2. y

The apron 49 as shown is carried by the lay and may be conviently secured to the front wall 5() of the shuttle box by means of securing means, such asl the bolts 51. The apron iswpreferably, though not necessarily, formed of resilient material, such for in stance, as leather or heavyfabric, which may be ordinarily suiiicient to maintain the 'apron in its weft carrier directing position, vIn some cases it may be desirable to provide a spring member to act uponthe apron to facilitate its response to the shock of a contactihg weft carrier as it is discharged from the shuttle, and in the present instance yof the invention Vthe spring member is shown as a looped spring 52, the upper end portions of which may be secured in place by the bolts 51 which secure the apron to the lay. `Where the front wall of the shuttle box 50 is formed as indicated, a filler piece 53 will be provided between the upper end of the apron and the front wall of the shuttle box to properly position the apron in the path of the outgoing filling carrier.

From the construction described as comprising a good form of the present invention,

it will be apparent that the fixed and movable clampingl members willA remain normally closed during weaving operations until upon call for replenishment ofA weft they will be relatively moved to provide an opening between the laterally extending L arms' of the` clamping members, which is directed into the natural path ofthe outgoing weft carrier, and on completion of replenishment of weft they will be relatively moved to` clamp and hold theweft end bvetween the discharged weft carrier and shuttle to hold it securely clamped by reason of the interengaging projection 42 of the movable clampingmember and the tapering lined recess of the arm 17 of the fixed clamp ing member'. Should the outgoing weft carrier be unduly projected front-Wardly on replenishment of weft, the apron will intercept the weft carrier and vdirectit into the openingbetween the clamping members.

Vha-t is claimed is: y n l. A weft clearing device for weft replenishing looms, comprising a fixed weft elamping member having a weft clamping portion extending in a direction transversely of the loom in front of the lay, a movable clamping member having a weft clamping portion substantially parallel to the weft clamping portion of the fixed clamping member means actuated by frontward movement of the lay for lifting the movable clamping member in a vertical direct-ion away from the weft clamping portion of the fixed clamping member in parallelV relation on call for replenislnnent to permit the discharged weft carrier to pass between the open jaws thus formed by the two clamping portions, and means for moving the movable clamping portion of the movable clamping member downwardly towards and into engagement with the clamping portion of the fixed clamping member after the discharged `weft carrier has passed between said clamping portions to clamp and positively hold the weft between the shuttle and discharged weft carrier, l v

2. A weft clearing device for weft replenishing looms, comprising a fixed weft clamping member having a weft clampingportion extending in a direction transversely of the loom in front of the lay, a movable clamping member having a weft clamping portion substantially parallel to the weftA clamping portion of the 'fixed clamping member and mounted for movement in a vertical direction away from the weft clamping portion of the fixed clamping member in parallel relation on call for replenishment to permit the discharged weft carrier to pass be tween the open jaws thus formed by the two clamping portions, an apron secured to the front of the lay and extending downwardly frontward of the kpath of the ejected weft carrier for arresting frontward movement thereof and directing the dischargedV weft carrier between said open jaws, and means for moving the movable clamping portion of the movable clamping member in a vertical direction towards and into engagement with the clamping` portion of the fixed clamping member after the discharged weft carrier has passed between said clamping portions to clamp and positively hold the weft between the shuttle and discharged weftcarrier. Y j

. 3. A weft clearing device for weft replenishing looms, comprising a fixed weft clamping member having a weft clamping portion extending ina direction transversely of the loom in front of the lay, a movable clamping member having a weft clamping portion substantially parallel tothe weft clamping portion of the lixed clamping` member, means actuated by frontward movement of the lay for lifting the movable clamping member in a vertical direction away from the weft clamp-r ing portion of the fixed clamping member parallel relation on call for replenishment to permit the Vdischarged weftcarrier to pass between the open jaws `thus form-ed b y the two clamping portions, an apronl a vertical direction towards and into engage-L on of the lixed ment with the clamping port clamping member after thedscharged weft carrier has passed between said clamping port-ions to clamp and positively hold the weft between the shuttle and discharged weft carrier. y y

l. A weft clearer for `weft replenishing looms, comprising a fxed weft clamping member having a weft clamping VVa movable weft clamping member rhaving a j clamping arm mounted formovement in parallel c with the weft clamping arm of the {ix-ed weft clamping member, said arms` being provided wedge shaped recessend 'the other withk an interlocking wedge projection, means actuated by frontward movement of the lay for lifting the arm of the movable clamping member upwardly in parallel relation t6 the arm of the fixed clamping member to form an opening for the passage of the outgoing weft carrier on call for replenishm nt of weft, and means for m-ovinglhe arm of the movable clamping member downwardly in parallel relation 'to the arm ofthe fix-ed clamping member to clamp 'the weft between the shuttle and discharged weft carrier.

5. A weft clearer for weftreplenishing looms, comprisinga iixerl weft-*clamping member having a weft clamping arm, a movable weft clamping member (having a weft clamping arm mountec for movement in parallel. relation with the weft clamping arm of tlie fixed weft clamping member` said arms being provided the one with a wedge shaped recess and the other with an" interlocking wedge projection, means for moving the arm of the movable clamping member upwardly in parallel relation to the arm f the fixed clamping memberto form an opening for 'the passage of the outgoing weft carrier on call for replenishment of weft, an apron secured to the front of the lay and extending downwardly frontward of the path of. an ejected weft carrier fordirecting the outgoing weft the one with aV nemers Y carrier between the open jaws formed by the two arms, and means for moving the arm of the movable clamping member iu parallel relation to the arm ot the fixed clamping member to clamp the weft between the shuttlc and'discharged weft carrier.

6. A weft clearer for weft replenishing looms, comprising a fixed weft clamping member having a weft clamping arm, a movable weft clamping member having a weft clamping arm mounted 'for movement in parallel relation with the weft clamping arm of the fixed weft clamping member, said' arms being provided the one with a recess and the other with an interlocking projection, an actuator' connected to the movable clamping member and Operated by frontward movementof the lay for lifting the arm of the movable clamping member in parallel relation to the arm of the fixed clamping member 'to form an opening for the passage of the outgoing weft carrier on call for replenishment of weft, an apron mounted on the lay in iront of the path of the outgoing weft carrier to direct it between the two arms, and means for moving the arm of the movable clamping member in parallel relation to the arm of the fixed clamping member to clamp the weft between the shuttle and discharged weft carrier.

7. A weft clearer for weft replenishing looms, comprising a fixed weft clamping member having a weft clamping arm, a movable weft clamping member having a weft clamping arm, means actuated by the lay for lifting the movable clamping member on an upwardly extending arc in parallel relationy with the weft clamping arm of the fixed weft clamping member, said arms being provided the one with a wedge shaped recess and the other with an interlocking wedge projection, and means for moving the arm of the movable clamping member in parallel relation to the arm of the fixed clamping member to clamp the weft between the shuttle and discharged weft carrier.

8. A weft clearer for weft replenishing looms, comprising two clamping members each having a weft clamping arm extending transversely of the loom and in parallel relation, one having a wedge shaped recess and the other a wedge shaped projection to engage the recess to clamp and hold the weft thread, means actuated by frontward move-v ment of the lay for relatively moving the clamping members in an upwardly extending path on call for replenishment of weft to present an opening directed towards the lay for the passage of the outgoing `weft carrier, and means for relatively moving the clamping members to close said opening and clamp the thread between the discharged weft carrier and shuttle.

9. A weft clearer for weft replenishing looms, comprising two clamping members each having la weft clamping arm extending transversely of the loom and in parallel relation,'one having a wedge shaped recess lined with friction material and the other la wedge shaped projection to engage'the yrecess tov `clamp and holdthe'weft thread, means for relatively movingthe clamping membersl in .an upwardly extendingl path on call for replenishment of weftto presentan opening directed towards the lay for the passage of n theoutgoing weft carrier, an apron secured to the front of the lay and projecting downwardly frontwardv of theV path of an ejected weft carrier for direct-ing the outgoing wett carrier through said opening, and means for relatively moving the clamping members to close said opening and clamp the thread between the discharged weft carrier and shuttle. y

10. A weft clearer for weft replenishing looms, comprising two clamping membersl each having a weft clamping arm extending transversely of the loom and in parallel relation, one having a recess and the other a projection to engage the recess to clamp and hold the weft thread, means for relatively moving the clamping members in an upwardly extending path on call for replenishment of weft to present an opening directed i towards the lay for the'passage of the out-- going weft carrier, an 'apron mounted on the lay in front of the path ofthe outgoing weft carrier to arrest front-ward movement of the ejected weft carrier and direct it through said opening, and means for rela tively moving the clamping members to close said opening and clamp the thread between the discharged weftcarrier and shuttle.

11. A weft clearer for weft-replenishing looms, comprising two weft clamping members supported by the loom frame frontward of the lay and each having a clamping arm extending transversely of the loom in parallel relation when in either opened or closed position, means for relatively swinging said members ina vertical direction to present an opening between the parallel clamping arms of said members directed towards the shuttle box for the passage of the outgoing weft carrier on replenishment of weftand to close said opening and clamp the weft between the shuttle box and discharged-weft carrier and a flexible apron mounted upon the front of the lay and extending downwardly in front of the path of movement of the ejected weft carrier to direct it between the parallel clamping arms of the two clamping members.

12. A weft clearer for weft replenishing looms, comprising two weft clamping members each having .an arm extending transversely of the loomA in parallel relation, means for relatively swinging said members about a centre to present an opening between the arms of said members directed towards the shuttle. box for the passage vof the outl lll) going weft carrier on replenishment of weft,

an apron secured tothe front of the lay and extending downwardly frontward of the path of an ejected weft carrier for arresting f' its frontward movement and for directing the outgoing weft carrier through said opening and to close said opening and clamp the weft between the shuttle box and discharged weftcarrier.

and extending in a downward direction' frontward of the path vof an ejected weft carrier for arresting its frontward movement and for directing an outgoing weft carrier in desired direction.'

14. In a weft replenishing loom, the combination of the layfhaving a shuttle box provided with an opening for the passage of a weft carrier on replenishment of weit, and an apron mounted on the lay in front of the shuttle box and extending downwardly frontward of the path or an ejected weft carrier for arresting its frontward movement and for directing the path of movement of an outgoing weft carrier.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciication. Y

PATRICK KEEGAN. 

